Water Heater and Water Pipes

Action of the Month for September

Water Heater
To reduce its energy use, set your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees and insulate your water heater if it is in an unheated space. The water heater is typically the largest use of energy in the home after heating and cooling.

Setting the water heater temperature to 120 degrees gives you these benefits:

• With today’s detergents 120 degrees is plenty for both washing machine and dishwasher use.
• It is safer for children because hotter settings pose a more severe safety hazard for scalding.
• It operates water heaters at top efficiency.
• It increases the life of your water heater.
• It slows corrosion and mineral buildup in pipes and heaters. (Source: Energy.gov)

Video and written instructions of how to set your water heater thermostat to a better temperature (Source: energy.gov)
 
Video instruction of how to insulate your water heater (Source: energy.gov) This also lets you know how to tell whether you need to insulate your water heater.
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​Water Pipes
​Insulating your pipes—ones in unheated areas—is simple and inexpensive. It helps to

• reduce the chance your pipes will freeze
• reduce water heater energy use
• avoid wasting running water waiting for it to turn hot or cold
• lower your utility bills

Video instructions of how to insulate your hot water pipes (Source: energy.gov)
​Remember to insulate both your hot and cold pipes if  in cabinets under sinks next to an outside wall of your residence.
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A water heater wrapped in an insulating blanket

Water pipes

DID YOU KNOW…
If you are a NorthWestern Energy (NWE) residential customer, you can check the following link for their rebates and incentives programs for natural gas water heating, electric water heating, hot water tank insulation, hot water pipe insulation, and Energy Star rated purchases. Residential Services for Montana
You may want to bookmark or save this link as a favorite you can return to.
 
Members of their NWE’s Low Incomes Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) may also qualify NWE’s weatherization services like furnace, boiler, or water heater inspections, sealing air leaks, and wrapping water heaters for home or apartment. Contact them for services.
 
Advanced action:
To save more energy used to run water heaters, consider replacing your unit with a solar water heater, tankless water heating, or geothermal pre-heating options. You can look into these options, as well as the Energy Star rated purchases, to see which may possible and work best for you. Remember to check NorthWestern Energy for possible rebates.
 
Note: If your water heater’s tank leaks, you probably need a new water heater.  
 
Adapted with permission from materials produced by
Earth Care for Hoosier-IPL www.EarthCareIndiana.org